More than $650,000 will be spread out over nine races for the final All-Quarter Horse racing program at Indiana Grand Saturday, Oct. 24. The card features four stakes races to complete the day, including the 12th running of the $192,400 Miss Roxie Little Futurity.
Slated as the first of four stakes in Race 6, the Miss Roxie Little Futurity features 10 of the state's top two-year-olds running 350 yards. Beach Blast, the quickest qualifier from the trials, has been tagged as the early morning line favorite heading into the race. A son of Escondido Beach, the sorrel gelding trained by Randy Smith has two wins in five starts this year with earnings just under the $40,000 mark. He just missed the title in the $81,000 Leader of the Class Stakes two starts back and will begin his quest for the Miss Roxie Little Futurity title from post six at odds of 3-1. Shanley Jackson is back aboard Beach Blast for owners Keith Bode and Brock Hutchinson.
The Miss Roxie Little Futurity, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: Up Town J Ray (Cesar Esqueda, 20-1); Beach Diva (L.D. Martinez, 5-1); Gottasmoochjess (Natasha Fritz, 20-1); Rock Candy Almighty (Victor Olivo, 30-1); WH Imastreakinbeach (Oscar Macias, 7-2); Beach Blast (Shanley Jackson, 3-1); Inseperable Blood, Sammy Mendez, 5-1); Zoomin Policy (Erik Esqueda, 20-1); Jess Bringin It On (Juan Marquez, 20-1); and Fire the Cartel (Rodney Prescott, 7-2). In addition to favored Beach Blast, Smith will saddle two others in the final, Inseperable Blood and Fire the Cartel. Trainer Paul Martin also has three in the final, Up Town J Ray, Zoomin Policy and Jess Bringin It On.
Next up on the Saturday program will be the 24th running of the $132,560 Governors Stakes, slated as Race 7. The race, one of three oldest pari-mutuel stakes races for Quarter Horses in the state of Indiana, will be contested at 350 yards with WRs Moonin Thewagon getting the nod as the early morning line favorite. The Moonin the Eagle grey gelding is on a two-race win streak for Gwen and Randy Williams, including the quickest trial for the Governor's Stakes. With Sammy Mendez aboard, WRs Moonin Thewagon starts from post nine for trainer Smith at odds of 3-5.
The entire field for the Governors' Stakes, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: BP Fancy Lady (Edgar Diaz, 12-1); Aa Storm the Mozoomo (Oscar Macias, 12-1); Lone Cartel (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 12-1); On a New Note (Isidro Banuelos, 8-1); Jess Ally (Natasha Fritz, 30-1); Wanna Be A Runaway (Cristian Reyes, 30-1); Julias Dazzle (L.D. Martinez, 20-1); Kisses Forever (German Rodriguez, 10-1); WRs Moonin Thewagon (Sammy Mendez, 3-5); and Shez Bodacious (Juan Marquez, 10-1). Trainer Tony Cunningham saddles three for the final (Aa Storm the Mozoomo, Julias Dazzle, Kisses Forever) while Trainer Tim Eggleston saddles two (Jess Ally, Shez Bodacious).
Joining the Governor's Stakes as one of the oldest pari-mutuel stakes in the state is the 24th running of the $121,880 QHRAI Derby, set as Race 8. The three-year-old stakes, running at a distance of 400 yards, features this year's standout WRs Apolliticalivory, who is four for four at Indiana Grand in 2020. The Apollitical Blood sophomore is the overwhelming favorite at odds of 1-5 with Sammy Mendez aboard from post nine for Williams Racing Stable. He is another standout from the Smith Stable this season.
The entire field of the QHRAI Derby, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: Justafamilytradition (Shanley Jackson, 30-1); My Pillow (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 20-1); Merciless Fire (Juan Cruz, 20-1); A Ruby Corona (Antonio Rodriguez, 30-1); Flyweight Carver (Juan Marquez, 10-1); Passenger Train (L.D. Martinez, 15-1); Relentless Chick (Cristian Reyes, 30-1); Coronados Lil Lady (Sergio Ramirez, 30-1); WRs Apolliticalivory (Sammy Mendez, 1-5); and MTs Sixty Six Cartel (German Rodriguez, 15-1). Smith will saddle two in the final, A Ruby Corona and WRs Apolliticalivory, while Tony Cunningham saddles Passenger Train and MTs Sixty Six Cartel.
The final stakes on the card is the eighth running of the $107,860 Indiana Championship featuring the return of the tough Country Boy 123. Owned by Ruth Barbour, the seven-year-old son of Country Chicks Man returns to the Cunningham barn for the event after spending the summer at Ajax Downs where he won five of seven starts and finished second in the other two races. Country Boy 123 finished fourth in last year's Indiana Championship over a sloppy track, which is the only time he's been worse than second over Indiana Grand's surface in his career that spans three years. Country Boy 123 is the favorite from post four at odds of 6-5 with L.D. Martinez aboard for the ride.
The entire field for the Indiana Championships, in post position order with jockey and odds includes: Beach Treat (Oscar Macias, 6-1); Yadi 1 (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 30-1); WRs Valentino (Juan Marquez, 8-1); Country Boy 123 (L.D. Martinez, 6-5); Kissmelikethat (Erik Esqueda, 20-1); Louisiana Lover (Sammy Mendez, 3-1); Abe (Edgar Diaz, 30-1); Valiantinecandyrocks (Victor Olivo, 8-1); Tres My Heart (Cesar Esqueda, 30-1); and Southern Belle BP (German Rodriguez, 20-1). Trainers Randy Thompson (Yadi 1, Abe) and Randy Smith (WRs Valentino, Louisiana Lover) will each saddle two in the Indiana Championship final.
It could be a big day for Smith, who is Indiana Grand's all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer and the leader from the past five seasons. Smith is currently sitting at 44 wins and is two away from equaling the mark he set in 2015 for most wins in one season (46). He is also very close to eclipsing the earnings record for a Quarter Horse trainer in one season. Smith is currently at $1,034,101 and the record is $1,104,209. Both records were set during a year when 120 days of racing were held in 2015 compared to the 2020 racing season that has been shortened due to COVID-19 shutdowns, making the records even more impressive this season.
Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Thursday, Nov. 19. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.
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